As
I have already mentioned, culture is the result o:f religion. What activities do
British Muslims perform and why?

(i)
THE FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM

These
are: (a) ‘IMAN’ or FAITH

(b)
‘SALAT’ or PRAYER

(c)
‘ZAKAT’ or POOR-DUE

(d)
‘SAIJ’ or FASTING

(e)
‘HAJJ’ or PILGRIMAGE

ISLAM

FAITH/BELIEF

2.
PRAYER

3.
CHARITY

4.
FASTING

5.
PILGRIMAGE

A
diagram to show that Islam is upheld by five pillars, of which faith, or belief,
is the central pillar.

(a)
‘IMAN’ or FAITH (The First Pillar of Islam)

This
is a pre—conditlon for being a believer. Any non—Muslim may become a Muslim
if he or she sincerely testifies that —

"There
is no God but God (Allah) and that Muhammed (May the Peace of God be upon him)
is the Messenger of God" -

and
then practices Islam and believes in the Hereafter, Islam is not, therefore, a
closed religion.

***********************

Abu
Huraira reported:

"One
day the Messenger of God (may peace be upon him) appeared before the public and
a man came to him and said:

‘Messenger
of God, (tell me) what is faith?’.

Upon
this, the Holy Prophet (May the Peace of God be upon him) replied:

‘That
you affirm your faith in God, His angels, His books, His meeting, His messengers
and that you affirm your faith in the Resurrection hereafter’.

He
again asked:

‘Messenger
of God (tell me) what does Islam signify?’ He (the Holy Prophet) replied:

‘Islam
signifies that you worship God and you do not associate anything with Him and
you establish obligatory prayer and you pay the obligatory poor—rate and you
observe the fast of Ramadam’.

He
(the inquirer) again said:

‘Messenger
of God, what does (devotion to God —AL-IHSAN) imply?’

He
(the Holy Prophet - May the Peace of God be upon him) replied:

‘That
you worship God as if you are seeing Him and in case you fail to see Him, then
observe prayer (with this idea in mind) that (at least) He is seeing you
.........’

(MUSLIM)

***********************

The
Messenger believes in what was sent down to him from his Lord,

And
the believers; each one believes in God and His angels, And in His Books and His
Messengers; we make no division Between any one of His Messengers. They say,

‘We
hear, and obey,

Our
Lord, grant us Thy forgiveness; unto Thee is the homecoming’.

(II
285)

***********************

Nay,
but whosoever submits his will to God, Being a doer of good deeds, his wage is
with his Lord, And no fear shall be on them, neither shall they sorrow.

(II
112)

It
is narrated in tradition that he who meets his Lord with implicit faith would
enter heaven (paradise) and the fire would be forbidden to harm him.

It
is narrated on the authority of Uthman (May God be pleased with him) that the
Messenger of God (May the Peace of God be upon him) said:

‘He
who died knowing (fully well) that there is no god but God entered Paradise’.

(MUSLIM)

***********************

It
is narrated on the authority of Abbas bin Abdul Muttalib (May God be pleased
with him) that he heard the Messenger of God (May the Peace of God be upon him)
saying:

‘He
relished the flavour of faith who became pleased with Allah as Lord, with Islam
as code of life, and with Muhammed as the Messenger of God’.

(MUSLIM)

***********************

"1
have believed in God and His angels and His Books and His Prophets and the Last
Day and the decree of good and evil and Life after Death".

(THE
MUSLIM

DECLARATION
OF

FAITH)

A
Muslim has to acknowledge by heart and believe fully in the following:—

1.
To believe In God, including belief in His attributes and in the fact that He is
one, He has no partner, and no—one is like Him.

2.
Only God is eternal and all the things, other than He, have been created later.

3.
To believe in the Angels.

4.To
believe in the Books, revealed by God.

5.
To believe in the Prophets commissioned by God.

6.
To believe in fate - that every good and bad comes from God.

7.
To believe in the ‘QIYAMAH’ (i.e. the Day of
Resurrection) including the questionning and answering in the grave, punishment
in the grave, being given life again after death, reckoning, weighing of the
deeds and crossing the ‘SIRAT’.

8.
To believe in the ‘JAHANNAM’; (the Hell) and the fact that it contains
severe types of punishment and tortures and that it will exist forever.

9.
To believe In the ‘JANNAH’ (the Paradise) and the fact that a believer (MUMIN)
will live there forever.

10.
To have love for God.

11.
To love somebody for the sake of God and also to hate somebody for the sake of
God, i.e. to love those who are obedient to God and to hate those who are
disobedient to God. This also includes love, with honour of the ‘SAHABAH’
(i.e. the companions of the Holy Prophet S.A.W.) and members of the Holy Prophet’s
(S.A.W.) family.

12.
To have love for the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) This includes having honour for him
and asking the Blessings (DARUD) upon him and following his ‘Sunnahs’ (ways)
sincerely.

13.
To have ‘IKELAS’ (sincerety), which also includes keeping away from the ‘RIYA’
(i.e. to do an act to show others) and hypocrisy.

S.A.W
= May The Peace of God Be Upon Him

14
‘TAUBAH’, i.e. to repent for sins with a feeling of sorrow and shame for the
misdeeds and firm determination not to repeat them in the future.

15.
To have the fear of God.

16.
To be hopeful of God’s mercy.

17.
Not to despair of God’s mercy.

18.
Thankfulness to God.

19.
Faithfulness to God.

20.
Patience (on sufferings).

21.
Politeness, which also includes paying respect to the elders.

22.
To have love and affection which includes kindness to the youngsters.

23.
To be contented with fate.

24.
Trust (‘TAWAKKUL’) in God.

25.
To give up self—conceit and self—praise which includes correcting one’s
evil self.

26.
Not have malice or suspicion for anyone, which also includes jealousy.

27.
To be modest.

28.
Not to be angry.

29.
Not to deceive.

30.
Not to love worldly wealth and prestige.

(b)
‘SALAT’ or PRAYER (The Second Pillar of Islam)

"Recite
that which has been revealed to thee of the Book, And establish prayer;

Surely
prayer keeps one away from indecency and evil".

(29:45)

***********************

"And
establish prayer in the two parts of the day And in the first hours of the
night; Surely good deeds take away evil deeds, This is a reminder to (those)
mindful (of their duty to God)"

***********************

There
are a number of reasons why Muslims pray to God. Firstly, they acknowledge that
He is their Lord, that they ascribe no partners to Him and that they worship
Him. Secondly, they are made aware, mentally, of His presence, çtbough He be
invisible) and therefore less likely to do evil deeds (they would feel guilty
when doing evil in the interlude between the mid-day and the afternoon prayers,
for example). Thirdly, God is so merciful that if they pray to Him, this is a
good deed, and for this God will, out of His generosity, forgive them their evil
deeds. Fourthly, the fact that Muslims prostrate on the ground means that they
submit to God Most High, since they are not proud to do so. No doubt there are
many other reasons for prayer; these, however, are the less complicated ones.

It
is related in tradition by Abu Huraira (May God be pleased with him) that the
Holy Prophet (May the Peace of God be upon him) asked (the people):

‘Will
any dirt remain on the body of a person - who has a lake running very closely by
the front of his door - and he takes a bath in It five times a day’?’

The
people replied:

‘How
can any dirt remain (on a person) after he (or she) has taken a bath five times
in a day?’

The
Holy Prophet (May the Peace of God be upon him) then said that just as no dirt
remains on a body of a person after bathing five times in a day, so (in the same
way) no sin remains with one who offers prayers five times daily. These prayers
wash away the lapses.

(BUKHARI,
MUSLIM)

***********************

Muslim
prayers, as is common knowledge, are composed of a number of different postures:
standing and sitting and bowing down included. Any standard book on Islam would
contain information of the physical movement inv~lved in prayer; I merely wish
to cite WHAT it is that Muslims read in their prayers - the content, in other
words. The following is the translation of the standard contents of a Muslim
prayer:

GOD
IS THE GREATEST OF ALL

GLORY
BE TO YOU, 0 GOD, AND YOURS IS THE

PRAISE,
AND BLESSED IS YOUR NAME, AND

EXALTED
IS YOUR MAJESTY, AND THERE IS NO GOD BESIDES YOU.

IN
THE NAME OF GOD, MOST GRACIOUS, MOST MERCIFUL

PRAISE
BE TO GOD, THE CHERISHER AND SUSTAINER OF THE WORLDS, MOST GRACIOUS, MOST
MERCIFUL.

MASTER
OF THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT, YOU ONLY DO WE WORSHIP; AND YOUR HELP DO WE SEEK.

SHOW
US THE STRAIGHT WAY,

THE
WAY OF THOSE ON WHOM YOU HAVE BESTOWED YOUR GRACE,

THOSE
WHOSE PORTION IS NOT WRATH, AND WHO GO NOT ASTRAY.

In
the name of God, most Gracious, most Merciful, say:

‘HE
IS GOD, THE ONE AND ONLY GOD, THE ETERNALLY BESOUGHT OF ALL, HE GIVES NO BIRTH,
NOR IS HE BORN, AND THERE IS NONE LIKE UNTO HIM’

(QURAN,
112)

GOD
IS THE GREATEST OF ALL.

GLORY
TO MY LORD THE GREAT.

GOD
ACCEPTS ANY WHO ARE THANKFUL TO HIM;

OUR
LORD, PRAISE BE TO YOU.

GLORY
TO MY LORD THE MOST HIGH.

ALL
REVERENCE, ALL WORSHIP, ALL SANCTITY ARE DUE TO GOD, PEACE BE UPON YOU, 0
PROPHET, AND THE MERCY OF GOD AND HIS BLESSINGS.

PEACE
BE UPON US ALL AND ON THE RIGHTEOUS SERVANTS OF GOD.

I
BEAR WITNESS THAT THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD ALONE AND I BEAR WITNESS THAT MUHAMNED
IS HIS SERVANT AND MESSENGER.

(c)
‘ZAKAT’ or POOR-DUE (The Third Pillar of Islam)

The
parable of those

Who
spend their wealth

In
the way of God is that

Of
a grain of corn: it groweth

Seven
ears, and each ear

Hath
a hundred grains.

God
giveth manifold increase

To
whom He pleaseth

And
God careth for all

And
He knoweth all things.

Those
who spend

Their
wealth in the cause

Of
God, and follow not up

Their
gifts with reminders

Of
their generosity

Or
with injury - for them

Their
reward is with their Lord:

On
them shall be no fear,

Nor
shall they grieve.

(II
261,261)

***********************

It
is reported in tradition by Abu Huraira (May God be pleased with him) that the
Holy Prophet (May the Peace of God be upon him) has said that whosoever gives by
way of charity even such a small thing as a date, and provided that the charity
(in this case the date) has been bought by lawful income, (for God likes only
pure things), God would foster this charity and increase it, so that even a date
becomes equal to a mountain. (That is to say, God will give the person the
reward equivalent to having given a whole mountain of dates, In this particular
case, in the way of charity).

Abu
Huraira (May God be pleased with him) has reported in tradition that the Holy
Prophet (May the Peace of God be upon him) has said that, every morning, two
angels descend from Heaven and pray. One says, "0 God! Give wore to those
who spend in good cause (charity)"

and
the other says,

"0
God! Destroy the wealth of the miser!"

(BUKHARI,
MUSLIM)

***********************

The
Holy Prophet (May the Peace of God be upon him) said to Bilal (May God be
pleased with him) -

"Do
not be afraid of spending and have no fear that the Lord of the Heavenly Throne
will give you less".

(TIBRANI)

***********************

It
is reported in tradition by Abu Huraira (May God be pleased with him) that the
Holy Prophet (May the Peace of God be upon him) said:

"If
any owner of gold and Silver does not pay what is due on him, when the Day of
Resurrection will come, plates of fire will be beaten out for him; these will
then be beaten in the fire of Hell and his sides, his forehead and his back will
be cauterised with them Whenever these cool the process will be repeated duringa day whose length (duration) would be fifty thousand years, until
judgetnent is pronounced among the servants and he sees whether his path is to
take him to Paradise or to Hell.."

(MUSLIM)

(d)
‘SAU M’ or FASTING (The Fourth Pillar of Islam)

"0
ye who believes

Fasting
is prescribed to you

As
it was prescribed

To
those before you,

That
ye may guard (against evil) -

(II
183)

***********************

It
is narrated in tradition by Abu Huraira (May God be pleased with him) that the
Holy Prophet (May the Peace of God be upon him) has said that one who keeps a
fast should refrain from (any kind of) obscenity. If any one quarrels with him
or abuses, he should say that he is fasting, and that he will not acknowledge
the abuse (or respond). The mild offensive smell from the mouth of one who fasts
is better (in God’s estimation) that the smell of musk.

(MUSLIM)

***********************

It
is narrated in tradition by Sahal bin Saad (May God be pleased with him) that
the Holy Prophet (May the Peace of God be upon him) has said that one who has
observed fasts will enter the Paradise by a special gate, which is named RAYYAN.
When all those who used to observe fasts enter, (then) this gate will be closed
and no—one will enter by it.

(BUKHARI)

***********************

It
is narrated in tradition by Abu Darda (May God be pleased with him) that the
Holy Prophet (May the Peace of God be upon him) has said that for the person who
keeps a day’s fast for the sake of God, there is created (by God) a gulf
between this person and the Hell whose width is equal to the distance of space
between the earth and the sky.

(TIBRANI)

***********************

It
Is narrated in tradition by Salman Farsi (May God be pleased with him) that on
the 29th of Shaban, he, the Holy Prophet (May the Peace of God be upon him)
delivered a sermon and especially made this announcement:

‘O
People! A very auspicious month* is about to cast its shade over you. There is
one night in this month when prayer is better than prayers of one thousand
months. God has commanded fasts in this month. Waking at night (in worship) is
appreciable. Whosoever offers superogatory prayers in this month will get the
credit of compulsory prayers in other months and the merit of compulsory prayers
of this month is equal to seventy compulsory prayers of other months. This is
the month of patience, and the reward of patience is Paradise.

‘This
is the month of mutual help and sympathy. A believer’s sustenance is increased
in this month. Whosoever provides the food, with which another is able to break
fast, has his sins forgiven (by God) and is saved from the Hell. The man who
gives breakfast (food before beginning of the fast) to another is rewarded like
one who has kept fast and there is no decrease in the reward of one who breaks
the fast’.

*
I.E. RAMADHAN

(e)
‘HAJJ’ or PILGRAMAGE TO MECCA (The Fifth Pillar of Islam)

It
is narrated in tradition by Abu Huraira (May God be pleased with him) that the
Holy Prophet (May the Peace of God be upon him) has said that whosoever performs
the pilgrimage and does not commit any kind of apostacy or talk anything
obscene, returns from the pilgrimage as free from sin as a new-born baby.

(BUKHARI,
MUSLIM)

***********************

It
is narrated in tradition by Abu Huraira (May God be pleased with him) that the
Holy Prophet (May the Peace of God be upon him) has said that God forgives the
sins of a person who has been on pilgrimage (to His House) and also the sins of
those people on behalf of whom the pilgrim prays to Him.

(BAZAZ)

***********************

Abu
Zar (May God be pleased with him) reported that the Holy Prophet (May the Peace
of God be upon him) stated that the Prophet David (Daud), (in a communication
with God), asked what would be the reward of those who come to visit His house
(i.e. on pilgrimage). God said —"0 David, ‘they are otu guests. It is
their privilege that I forgive them their sins in this world and when they meet
me in the next world, I grant them salvation".

(TIBRANI)

(ii)
Dress

A
typical Muslim woman in Britain is usually seen wearing a light scarf (a DOPATTA),
usually slung round the neck or covering the head, a SHALWAR - rather baggy
trousers, and a longish dress - a KAMEEZ. White Britons are sometimes puzzled
with regard to the necessity for this type of dress. Why do Muslim women clothe
themselves in this way? Here are some of the reasons:

Firstly,
since the clothes are quite baggy, they are not designed to attract males —
thus the legs, bosom and the body as a whole is not clear cut — the figure of
the woman is not, therefore, ostentatious. Secondly, clothes reflect the
character of the Muslim woman - she is morally sound (modest) and not
promiscuous (I am not implying that those women who do not wear these clothes
are). Thirdly, in those instances in which Muslim women do wear westernstyle
clothes, these conform to religious obligations —f or example, trousers, which
cover the legs.

I
must emphasise that Asian women do NOT wear these clothes so that they can be
identified as foreigners, or for the sake of being awkward. The reasons for
doing so may be discerned from the following information:

Say
to the believing men

That
they should lower

Their
gaze and guard

Their
modesty: that will make

For
greater purity for them:

And
God is well acquainted

With
all that they do.

And
say to the believing women

That
they should lower

Their
gaze and guard

Their
modesty: that they

Should
not display their

Beauty
and ornaments except

What
(must ordinarily) appear

Thereof;
that they should

Draw
their veils over

Their
bosoms and. not display

Their
beauty except

To
their husband, their fathers……

o
ye Believers!

Turn
ye all together

Towards
God, that ye

May
attain Bliss.

XXIV
30-31)

***********************

Ma’as
bin Amr (May God be pleased with him) has said that if anyone despite his
ability and resources wears simple dress just for the sake of humility, (then)
Allah will authorise him on the Day of Judgement, before the whole crowd (of
gatherers) to select for himself whatever role of piety he likes.

(TIRMIZI)

***********************

Ma’az
bin Anas (May God be pleased with him) has reported in a tradition that the Holy
Prophet (May the Peace of God be upon him) said that whosoever puts on new
clothes will have all his sins if he recites the following verse:

ALL
THANKS ARE DUE TO GOD WHO GAVE ME THIS

CLOTH
WITH WHICH I COVER MY BODY AND

DECORATE
MY LIFE.

Whoever
says these words, while changing clothes will be taken into God’s care in this
life and the next.

(TIRMIZI)

***********************

Abu
Umama bin Sa’Iaba (May God be pleased with him) has reported that once the
Holy Prophet (May the Peace of God be upon him) talking about this world, said
that simplicity in dress is one of the signs of faith.

(ABU
DAUD)

(iii)
Food

it
i.s common knowledge that Muslims do not eat, for religious reasons, pork
or meat which is not ‘halal’, i.e. not dedicated. to God. This has always
been the case since the days of early immigration, whether in school or factory
canteens, university refectories or hospital kitchens. It is very true that
eating other kinds of meat will not poison or make a Muslim ill, so why do
Muslims insist that they must have a special diet?

"0
ye people!

Eat
of what is on earth

Lawful
and good;

And
do not follo’v,

The
footsteps of the Evil One,

For
he is to you

An
avowed enemy.

(II
168)

***********************

"0
ye who believe!

Eat
of the good. things

That
We have provided for you,

And
be grateful to God,

If
it is Him ye worship.

He
hath only forbidden you

Dead
meat, and blood,

And
the flesh of swine,

And
that on which

Any
other name hath been Invoked

Besides
that of God.

But
if one is forced by necessity,

Without
wilful disobedience,

Nor
transgressing due limits -

Then
is he guiltless.

For
God is Oft—Forgiving,

Most
Merciful.

(II
173)

***********************

Forbidden
to you (for food)

Are:
dead meat, blood,

The
flesh of swine, and that

On
which hath been invoked

The
name of other than God;

That
which hath been

Killed
by strangling,

Or
by a violent blow,

Or
by a headlong fall,

Or
by being gored to death.

That
which hath been (partly)

Eaten
by a wild animal…..

(V
4)

Jabir
(May God be pleased with him) has narrated that the Holy Prophet (May the Peace
of God be upon him) has said:

"If
accidentally any morsel o:f rood drops, it should be cleaned and eaten. Do not
leave it for the devil. Lick your fingers after taking food. You do not know
which part of food contains divine perfusion. Whoever recites these words after
taking food is forgiven for all of his past sins:

ALL
PRAISE BE TO GOD WHO GAVE ME THIS

FOOD
AND GRANTED ME WITHOUT MY EFFORT

AND
MEANS."

(MUSLIM)

***********************

Abu
Huraira (May God be pleased with him) has reported that the Holy Prophet (May
the Peace of God be upon him) has said that a guest has the right of hospitality
over his host. If the host does not entertain, the guest has a right to claim
his share from the possession of the host.

(AHMAD)

***********************

(iv)
Alcohol and Gambling and Drugs

"0
ye who believe!

Intoxicants
and gambling,

…………………..

Are
an abomination,

0f
Satan’s handiwork:

Eschew
such (abomination),

That
ye may prosper.

Satan’s
plan is (but)

To
excite enmity and hatred

Between
you, with intoxicants

And
gambling, and hinder you

From
the remembrance

Of
God, and from prayer:

Will
ye not then abstain?"

(V
90)

(v)
Women and Marriage

If
Muslim men are reputedly chauvinistic, this may be so, but this does not have
the support of religion, In which case those responsible are sinners. One must
not treat religion and custom as Identical. It is possible to do something out
of custom which is, in fact, against religion.

O
ye who believe!

Ye
are forbidden to inherit

Women
against their will*

Nor
should ye treat them

With
harshness, that ye may

Take
away part of the dower~

Ye
have given them, - except

Where
they have been guilty

Of
open lewdness;

On
the contrary - live with them

On
a footing of kindness and equity.

If
ye take a dislike to them

It
may be that ye dislike

A
thing, and God brings about

Through
it a great deal of good.

(IV
19)

An
Arab custom in the past.

In
Islam, there must be mutual co—operation between husband and wife. A husband
has certain rights over his wife - she must satisfy his desire, guard his
property and interests and look after him with regard to housework. But the
husband, for his part, also has obligations to his wife - he must look after her
financially, he must protect her, give her emotional support and he must not be
harsh to her.

Men
are the protectors

And
maintainers of women,

Because
God has given

The
one more (strength)

Than
the other, and because

They
support them

From
their means.

Therefore
the righteous women

Are
devoutly obedient, and guard

In
(the husband’s absence)

What
God would have them guard.

As
to those women

On
whose part ye fear

Disloyalty
and ill—conduct,

Admonish
them (first),

(Next),
refuse to share their beds,

(And
last) beat them lightly;

But
if they return to obedience,

Seek
not against them

Means
(of annoyance):

For
God is Most High,

Great
(above you all).

(IV
34)

***********************

Abu
Huraira (May God be pleased with him) has reported in tradition, that the Holy
Prophet (May the Peace of God be upon him) has said that good mannered (men) are
perfect in faith - they always have good relations with their wives.

(IBN
MAAjA)

***********************

Samra
bin Janbab (May God be pleased with him) has reported that the Holy Prophet (May
the Peace of God be upon him) has said that woman was created from the rib of
the Prophet Adam (May the Peace of God be upon him). If you try to straighten
it, it will try to break away*, so a Muslim should treat her with love and
affection for a peaceful life.

(TIRMIZI)

*
It can result in Divorce.

***********************

Anas
bin Malik (May God be pleased with him) has narrated in tradition that the Holy
Prophet (May the Peace of God be upon him) has said that If a woman, on her
husband’s being displeased, says to him that she will not sleep unless he is
pacified and (assures him that) her hand is in his, then such a woman is
entitled to the Paradise.

(TIBRANI)

**********************

Umme
Salma (May God be pleased with him) has reported that the Holy Prophet (May the
Peace of God be upon him) has said that a woman is sure to get Into the Paradise
if her husband is pleased with her at the time of her death.

(TIRMIZI)

***********************

It
is He who created

You
from a single person,

And
made his mate

Of
like nature in order

That
he might dwell with her

(In
love). when they are

United,
she bears a light

Burden
and carries it about

(Unnoticed).
When she grows

Heavy,
they both pray To God their Lord (saying):

"If
Thou givest us A goodly child, We vow we shall

(ever)
be grateful".

And
among His signs

Is
this, that He created

For
you mates from among

Yourselves,
that ye may

Dwell
in tranquility with them,

And
He has put love

And
mercy between your (hearts):

Verily
in that are signs

For
those who reflect.

(XXX
21)

**********************

It
is reported from Abu Huraira (May God be pleased with him) that he said: The
Apostle of God (May the Peace of God be upon him) once entered to his daughter,
Fatima, the bright-faced one - with whom may God be pleased - and found her
grinding barley flour and weeping. So the Prophet (May the Peace of God be upon
him) said to her: "What makes you weep, 0 Fatima?"

She
answered: "0 my Father, it is because of tiredness (overweariness) from
grinding the flour, and the household needs. Would that you would ask the Imam
All to buy for himself a (slave) girl. That would be a great reward for
him." When the Prophet (May the Peace of God be upon him) heard her words,
his heart was touched with pity for her and his eyes overflowed with tears. Then
the Prophet (May the Peace of God be upon him) took a seat near the hand mill,
took a handful of barley in his blessed hand and said:

"In
the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate". Then he began to throw
it into the hand mill, which then turned of itself, and he found it glorifying
God —glorious and exalted is He - in a tongue most eloquent and a voice most
sweet, which continued till the grinding of the flour was finished

Then
the Prophet (May the Peace of God be upon him) turned to Fatima (May God be
pleased with her) and said to her:

"0
Fatima, did God so will this hand mill would grind by itself everyday, but God
— glorified and exalted is He —desires to record to your credit (the merit
of) good deeds and to raise your degrees (darajat*) because of your grievous
burdens. 0 Fatima, there is no woman who sweats at her baking but God will set
seven trenches between her and Hell Fire, the distance between each trench and
the next being the distance between heaven and earth. 0 Fatima, there Is no
woman whose eyes water as she cuts up onions for the family meal but God writes
down to her record the reward of those who weep out of fear of God - may He be
exalted. 0 Fatima, there is no woman who sets her band to her spinning but for
every thread thereof God writes in her record a good deed and blots out a
hundred evil deeds.

*
See "The vision of God in the next world".

O
Fatima, there is no woman who twists what she has spun but will have a specified
place all for herself beneath the Throne on the Resurrection Day. O Fatima,
there is no woman who spins and then clothes her children and little ones but
God will write in her record the merit of one who has fed a thousand hungry
persons and clothed a thousand naked persons. O Fatima, there is no woman who
has (tended) the heads of her children, untangled their hair, washed their
clothes and deloused them but God will for every hair write in her record a good
deed and for every hair blot out an evil deed, and will make her resplendent in
the eyes of those who behold.

O
Fatima, there is no woman who refuses her neighbours in their need but God will
refuse her a drink from the stream (al—Kawthar) ‘Abundance’ on the Day of
Resurrection,

O
Fatima, there are five things which it is not lawful to refuse, viz., water,
fire, ~ the hand mill and a needle, while for (liberality in the matter of) each
of these there is a good deed (written to one’s account).

O
Fatima, whoever refuses water God will afflict with dropsy, and whoever refuses
fire God will afflict with enmity between him and his family, and whoever
refuses the hand mill, God will afflict with illness. O Fatima, in God’s
(estimation) the most excellent of your works is that which makes your husband
well-pleased with you.

O
Fatima, she with whom her husband is well-pleased and who dies while he is still
well—pleased with her, will have written for her by God a good deed for every
hair he has on his body, and she will not depart from this world till she has
seen her abiding place In Paradise, nor will her spirit come forth from her body
till her Lord is well-pleased with her.

O
Fatima, there is no woman who dies while obedient to her husband but God will
write to her account a thousand good deeds. O Fatima, there is no woman without
a husband but is like a tree without fruit. O Fatima, whenever a man looks on
the face of his wife God writes to his account a hundred good deeds; if he goes
on and has marital relations with her God writes to his account a good deed for
every hair he has on his body and If he washes himself thereafter God creates
from every drop (of the water) an angel who will glorify God, Most High, and
pray for his forgiveness till the Day of Resurrection, while the merit of all
this (activity of the angels) goes to his account.

O
Fatima, should the woman become pregnant the angels in the heaven and the fish
in the waters will pray for forgiveness for him, God will write to her account a
thousand good deeds for every day of her pregnancy and blot out a thousand evil
deeds, and (grant her) the merit of those who go out on Holy War in the way of
God. Then when she Is delivered of her burden, she Is made clean of her sins as
on the day her mother bore her, while God writes to her account the merit of
seventy acceptable pilgrimages. Should she suckle her child God, for every drop
of milk, will write to her account a good deed and forgive an evil deed, while
the Runs (celestial maidens) in the Gardens of Delight will pray for forgiveness
for her. O Fatima, whenever a woman is with child the angels in the heavens and
the fish In the water pray for forgiveness for her, while God writes to her
account a thousand good deeds and blots out a thousand evil deeds.

O
Fatima, there Is no woman who puts on a cross face toward her husband but God is
angry with her, as are all the angels and should she forbid him her bed
everything moist and everything dry curses her. O Fatima, there is no woman who
says to her husband:

"Shame
upon you!"

but
comes upon the curse of God and the angels and all men.

O
Fatima, there is no woman who lightens her dowry for her husband but God will
decree that for every dirham* thereof she shall have a palace in Paradise. O
Fatima, there is no woman who prays and makes a petition for herself yet no
petition for her husband but God will reject her prayers till she makes a
petition for him. O Fatima, there is no woman whose husband is angry with her
yet she does not seek to appease him so that he becomes well pleased with her
but comes under the anger and wrath of God.

O
Fatima, there is no woman who dresses herself and adorns her person and goes out
from her house without her husband’s permission but every moist thing and
every dry thing curses her till she returns to her house, and there is no woman
who looks at the face of her husband and does not smile (at him) but God and the
angels and all men will be angry with her. O Fatima, there is no woman who
uncovers her face to anyone other than her husband but will be cast by God on
her face into Hell Fire.

O
Fatima, there is no woman who enters a house of which her husband disapproves
but God will send upon her (in her grave) seventy scorpions from the scorpions
(of the fire) ‘which will keep stinging her till the Resurrection Day. O
Fatima, there is no woman who fasts without her husband’s permission but God
will reject her fast and will accept from her no expiation or atonement. O
Fatima, there is no woman who steals from her husband’s house but God writes
to her account the crime of seventy thefts. And God knows best. The end.

(From
QISSAT AR-RAHA LI’S—SA’MIDA

FATIMA
AZ-ZAImA by Muhammed Mustafa

Al-Adawi,
Cairo).

It
Is permissible to cast a glance at the face and the palms of a woman whom one
Intends to marry.

It
is narrated intradition by Abu Huraira (May God be pleased with him):

I
was in the company of God’s Messenger (May the peace of God be upon him) when
there came a man and Informed him that he bad contracted to marry a woman of the
Ansar. Thereupon God’s Messenger (May the Peace of God be upon him) said:

"Did
you cast a glance at her?" He said: "No".

He
(then) said: "Go and cast a glance at her .......‘

(MUSLIM)

***********************

Translation
of the Marriage Sermon

All
praise is due to God and we praise Him and we beseech His help and we ask His
protection and we betake God’s refuge from the evils of our animal life and
from the bad results of our actions. Whom God guides there is none to misguide
him and whom God pleases to lead astray, there is none to guide him, and I bear
witness that there Is none to be worshipped but God and I bear witness that
Muhatnmed was His servant and His Apostle.

O
you who believes Be careful of (your duty to) God with the care which is due to
Him and die not unless you are Muslims.

O
people! Be careful of (your duty to) your Lord, who created you from a single
being and created its mate of the same (kind) and spread from these two, many
men and women, and be careful of (your duty to) God, by whom you demand one of
another (your rights) and (the ties of) relationship; surely God ever watches
over you.

O
you who believe! Be careful of (your duty to) God and speak the right word. He
will put your deeds into a right state for you and forgive you your faults; and
whoever obeys God and His Apostle, he has indeed achieved mighty success"

***********************

Sa’ad
bin Waggas (May God be pleased with him) said that the Holy Prophet (May the
Peace of God be upon him) has said that whosoever spends his money to gain God’s
pleasure and goodwill gets the credit of charity so much (so) that even a morsel
which he puts in the mouth of his wife has the reward of charity.

(BUKHARI,
MUSLIM)

(v)
Know1edge

And
say, 0 My Lord!

Increase
me in knoirledge.

(XX
114)

**********************

He
granteth wisdom

To
whom He pleaseth,

And
he to whom wisdom

Is
granted receiveth

Indeed
a benefit overflowing.

(II
269)

**********************

………And
God will raise up in rank

Those
of you who believe and have been given knowledge.

(LXIII
11)

**********************

It
has been reported in tradition by Waila Bin Asqa (May God be pleased with him)
that the Holy Prophet (May the Peace of God be upon him) said that whosoever is
successful in acquiring knowledge will secure double merit but even if
unsuccessful, he will at least secure one merit. (Thus, even the labour of the
unsuccessful student is not wasted).

(TIBRANI)

Sanjara
(May God be pleased with him) reported in a tradition that the Holy Prophet (May
the Peace of God be upon him) said that whosoever acquires knowledge (thereby)
compensates all his former sins.

(TIBRANI)

**********************

Abdulla
bin Masud (May God be pleased with him) has reported in a tradition that the
Holy Prophet (May the ‘eace of God be upon him) has said that there Is no man
except the two (types) who could be emulated. Firstly, the man to whom God has
given wealth, and he spends it in the path of God and, secondly, the man whom
God has given religious knowledge and he acts according to it and, (moreover)
teaches the knowledge to others.

(BUKHARI,
Muslim)

**********************

(vi)
Kindness to Parents

Thy
Lord hath decreed

That
ye worship none

And
that ye be kind

To
parents whether one

Or
both of them attain

Old
age in thy life,

Say
not to them a word

Of
contempt, nor repel them,

But
address them

In
terms of honour.

And,
out of kindness

lower
to them the wing

of
humility and say:

"My
Lord! bestow on them

Thy
mercy as they

Cherished
me in childhood."

(XXVI
24-25)

***********************

We
have enjoined on man

Kindness
to parents: but if

They
(either of them) strive

(To
force) thee to join

With
Me (in worship)

Anything
of which thou hast

No
knowledge, obey them not.

Ye
have (all) to return

To
me, and I will

Tell
you (the truth)

Of
all that ye did.

And
those who believe

And
work righteous deeds -

Them
shall we admit

To
the company of the Righteous.

(XXXIX
8-9)

**********************

We
have enjoined on man

Kindness
to his parents:

In
pain did his mother

Bear
him, and in pain

Did
she give him birth.

The
carrying of the (child)

To
his weaning is

(A
period of) thirty months.

At
length, when he reaches

The
age of full strength

And
attains forty years

He
says, "0 my Lord!

Grant
me that I may be

Grateful
for Thy favour

Which
Thou hast bestowed

Upon
me, and upon both

My
parents, and that I

May
work righteousness

Well-pleasing
to Thee,

And
be gracious to me

In
my seed. Truly

Have
I turned to Thee

And
truly do I bow

(To
Thee) in Islam.

Such
are they from whom

We
shall accept the best

Of
their deeds and pass by

Their
ill deeds: (they shall

Be)
among the Companions

Of
the Garden: a promise

Of
truth, which was

Made
to them

(In
this life).

But
(there is one)

Who
says to his parents

"Fie
on you! Do ye

Hold
out the promise

To
me that I

Shall
be raised up,

Even
though generations

Have
passed before me

(Without
rising again)?"

And
they two seek

God’s
aid (and rebuke

The
son): "Woe to thee!

Have
faith! For the promise

Of
God is true".

But
he says, "This is

Nothing
but tales

Of
the ancients!" *

(XLVI
15—18)

**********************

*
Although the parents believe in God and Life after Death, their son doesn’t.
This may be the case in some families in Britain today amongst the Asian
communities.

**********************

Abu
Amama (May God be pleased with him) has reported in tradition that the Holy
Prophet (May the Peace of God be upon him) was asked by a person as to what
rights a father and mother had over a son. The Prophet (May the Peace of God be
upon him) said that both of them were, for him, as Heaven and Hell (i.e. that if
he serves them, Paradise awaits him, but Hell awaits him if he is disobedient).